Wire tapping tool



Feb. 14, 1933. c. c. COON WIRE TAPPING' TOOL Filed April 10, 1931 ATTORNE YS.

Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES CHESTER G. COON, OF OAKLAND,CALIFORNIA WIRE TRAPPING TOOL Application filed April 10,

This invention is for a wire splicing device, and has special referenceto a device for tapping high tension power lines.

The main object of the invention is to provide means by which a hightension power line may be tapped with perfect safety to the lineman.

Another object of the invention is to prov vide a device as outlinedwhich is provided with means for holding the usual wire clamps ofdifierent sizes and additional means whereby the clamp screw may betightened, and operable from a remote point, so as to obviate thepossibility of shock to the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description is read on the drawing forming a part of thisspecification.

The invention consists primarily of a vise for holding a wire clamp anda wrench supported in adjusted relation to the vise jaws, a supportingand operating handle for the vise and another for the wrench.

The invention is adequately illustrated in the accompanying drawing inwhich similar reference characters are used to indicate similar partsthroughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation showing a wire clamp and a wrenchsocket in position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the wrench supporting bracket; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the wrench supporting slide.

The vise consists of a pair of jaws and 11 which are pivoted on thebolts 12 and 13 and have oppositely formed conical faces adapted tocooperate with the conical mem ber 14. A compression spring 15 urgesseparation of the jaws, which are adjusted by cooperation of thethreaded projection 16 of the conical member 14 with a nut 17 which issecured in a bracket 18 which also forms a spacer member for the jawsand supporting ,1 5 member for the wrench section of the device.

J The conical member 14 has an integral tang 1931. Serial No. 529,133.

19 which is secured in the handle 20, the end of which is provided witha ferrule 21, the handle being made of any desired length and formed ofan insulating material such as kiln dried wood, painted with waterproofinsulating paint or enamel, shellac, or other medium or may be formed ofbakelite or similar material.

The wrench consists of a rotatable member provided with a square shank22 adapted to cooperate with interchangeable sockets 23 to suit the head24 of clamp screw 25. An integral collar 26 rests on the slide 27 andsupports the wrench. An integral shank 28 is rotatable in the aperture29 in slide 27 and slidable in the slot 30 formed in the bracket 31. Anintegral tang 32 has a universal oint member 33 fixed th :etc by meansof a rivet 34, and a washer 35 cooperates with the underside of slide 27The universal joint consists of the usual construction of knuckle 36hingedly connected at right angles to two spanning members 33 and 37,member 37 being fixedly secured in a handle 38 with ferrule 39 securedon the end thereof, the handle 38 being substantially equal in lengthand of similar material to handle 20.

The slide 27 is adapted to fit over the bracket 31 and is provided witha set screw 40 by which the slide may be secured in adjusted positionwith the socket 23 in operative relation to the clamp screw 25. Bracket31 has an integral upwardly extending leg 41, the end of which isflanged back as at 42, and which is secured by means of studs 12 and 13,which studs are formed with a. shoulder at each end to form a spacer forjaws 10 and 11 between bracket 18 and flange 42 so the jaws may workfreely while brackets 18 and 42 are securely fixed together.

The device is used as follows: A wire clamp 43 is placed between thejaws 10 and 11 and clamped by turning handle 20, which draws thethreaded extension 16 up into nut 17, the conical portion 14 spreadingthe rear end of jaws 10 and 11 which are fulcrumed at the studs 12 and13 and consequently retract the jaws to clamp the wire clamp.

A. socket to fit the head of screw 25 is placed over the shank 22 andmember 27 is insulatmg material :tor said vise, a bracket moved to aposition in registry with the screw head and set screw L0 tightened.

The clamp 43 is then placed over the wires to be spliced or tapped,indicated at 44: and handle 38 turned or rotated, screwing the bolt 25through the upper clamp member and drawing the jaws thereoi together,securely clamping the wires 4- together. Handle 20 is then rotated torelease the jaws 10 and 11 from the clamp 43 permitting removal of thetool.

Having described an operable method of constructing and using thedevice, it will be understood that variations in construction andarrangement of parts which are consistent with the appended claims maybe resorted to without detracting from the spirit or scope of theinvention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim 1. A wire tapping tool, comprising, in combination, a pair ofhandles of insulating material, a vise actuated by one of said handlesand a wrench actuated by the other of said handles transversely to saidvise, said wrench being floatably supported by a bracket fixed to saidvise.

2. A wire tapping tool, in combination, a ise, a supporting andoperating handle of depending from and fixed to said vise, a wrenchfloatably supported by said bracket in adjustable relation transverselyto said vise, and an operating handle of insulating material for saidwrench.

3. In combination, releasable clamping means for a wire clamp, a handleof insulating material for supporting and actuating said clampin means,a bracket secured to said clamping means, a wrench socket shankadjustably supported transversely of said bracket in operative positionrelative to said clamping means, and a handle of insulating material foractuating said wrench.

t. In combination, releasable clamping means for a wire clamp, a handleof insulating material for supporting and actuating said clamping means,a bracket secured to said clamping means, a wrench socket shankfioatably supported transversely by said bracket in operative positionrelative to said clamping means, a handle formed or" insulating materialfor said wrench.

5. In combination, a supporting handle of insulating material, a viseactuated by rotation of said supporting handle and supported thereby, awrench fioatably supported transversely in cooperative relation to saidvise, a universal joint for said wrench, and a handle of insulatingmaterial for said wrench.

6. A wire clamp applying tool comprising a pair of parallelindependently rotatable handles, a vise transversely disposed andoperable by one of said handles and adapted to removably secure a clampfor juxtaposedly clamping two parallel wires and a wrench socket axiallydisposed relative to the other\ handle and operated thereby andfloatably mounted relative to the jaws of said vise.

7. A wire clamp applying tool adapted to position a clamp over twoparallel wires and tighten a screw transversely thereof comprising apair of handles, clamping means for said clamp actuated by rotation ofone of said handles and a wrench actuated by the other of said handlesand fioatably supported in cooperative relation to the screw.

8. A wire clamp applying tool comprising a pair of vise awsintermediately pivoted and resiliently urged apart, a handletransversely disposed and provided with means for actuating said jaws, abracket secured to said jaws and depending therefrom, a wrench iloatablysupported by said bracket in parallel relation to said handle and anoperating handle for said wrench.

9. A wire clamp applying tool comprising pair Oi aws intermediatelypivoted and resiliently urged apart at one end, the other end beingprovided with semi-conical recesses, a bracket secured to said jaws anddepending therefrom and having a portion parallel to said j aws, awrench transversely related to said jaws and slidable in parallelrelation to said aws and supported by said bracket, a handle foroperating said wrench and another handle having a conical portionadapted to cooperate with the semi-conical recesses in said jaws, saidconical portion terminating in a threaded member, and a nut supportedabove said jaws adapted to cooperate with said threaded portion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHESTER G. COON.

